The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn on Friday after an Oyo State High Court validated the party’s November 15, 2025 national convention in Ibadan and affirmed Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as substantive national chairman, ENigeria Newspaper reports.
In a ruling delivered in Ibadan, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld an amended originating summons filed by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of Folahan Malomo Adelabi. The court granted all 13 reliefs sought, declaring that the convention complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and other relevant laws.
The judge further dismissed applications filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others, who had sought a stay of proceedings and suspension of judgment. Their earlier attempt to be joined in the suit had also been rejected for lacking merit.
Crucially, the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the outcome of the convention, including the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Turaki.
Friday’s ruling comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh, nullified the same convention on January 30, 2026, holding that it was conducted in violation of existing court orders. That decision restrained Turaki and other officers from presenting themselves as national officials of the party.
The contradictory judgments have intensified divisions within the PDP, which remains split between the Turaki-led camp and another faction reportedly aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The latter bloc has dismissed the latest ruling as inconsequential.
With multiple appeals already before the Court of Appeal in Abuja ,where judgment has been reserved, the final legal determination of the party’s leadership remains pending, prolonging uncertainty within Nigeria’s main opposition party.
